Hayden Kaae wins title at Reno tournament

Monday

Dec 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Bill Choy@SDNBillChoy

Etna High senior wrestler Hayden Kaae had an impressive showing at the Sierra Nevada Classic Tournament in Reno, Nev. this past weekend.Kaae went 6-0 to earn the tournament title in the 195 pound division as he improved to a sterling 11-0 for the season.In his first five matches Kaae had three pins, a major decision victory, and won in the semifinals 6-2 to eventual third place finisher Brik Chesley.The tournament was held on Friday and Saturday.In the finale, Kaae, who was seeded No. 2 at the tournament at 195 and is the No. 12 ranked wrestler at 195 in California, faced Reno High wrestler Sullivan Cauley, who was the top seed at the tourney at 195 and won it all last year.The title match was a battle as the score was tied 4-4 at the end of three periods as the match went into sudden death. This meant that the next grappler to earn a point would win.A short time after the extra period began Kaae was able to get a takedown and earned two points to come away with the title.Kaae said that the match was a a very tough one that tested his endurance against a top opponent. “It was an ordeal,” Kaae said, adding that it meant a lot to him to come away with the victory.Kaae said he enjoyed wrestling against such tough competition, with wrestlers from six states taking part, and he hopes this will help him as the season goes on. “It was exciting to win this tournament,” he said. Kaae thanked his coaches for “challenging me” and helping him be prepared.Kyle Kaae, the Etna High co-coach along with Scott Forrester, is hopeful the strong showing in the tournament will help Hayden move up in the state rankings.“He's definitely had a really good year so far,” Kaae said, and he believes Hayden can exceed how he did last season. Last year, Hayden earned a berth to the state championships at 195. This past summer Hayden was a member of the California Cadet/Junior Olympic National Wrestling team and wrestled at the Fargo National Championships in North Dakota .Two other Etna wrestlers, Morgan Bahen and Thane Forrester also participated in the Reno tournament. Both went 0-2 at the event. Last week, Kaae took part in the Lou Bronzan Invitational in, Brentwood, Calif. He went undefeated to win the title at 195 and was named outstanding heavyweight at the event. In the title match Kaae downed Ayemere Oiyemhonlan of Deer Valley by pin.